Fly L:ine Care

[riverboy]

Im getting my fly reels ready for the big trout opener this weekend. What are some good tips on cleaning and removing the coils out of your line. I usally strecth the line out by hand, clean with a damp rag (without soap) and then I put a lite coat of Armour All on another rag a pull the line though that rag. After that I will kind of buff the fly line out by running it though a delicate type paper wipe. I have been doing it this way for a few years, it has work fairly good.

Anyone else have any tips or suggestions for taking care of there fly line.

[Jackster1]

If you are using Scientific Anglers line with AST or Orvis Wonderline just wash with mild soap and water. If these lines get real nasty a swipe with the S.A./3M micro-abrasive pad renews them.
For other lines it is wise to simply follow the manufacturers suggestions.
I have followed threads like this on other boards for quite a while and usually, when someone complains about their lines cracking and they haven't let them bake in the sun, the culprit is goop not recommended by the manufacturer.
Most everyone agree's that a silicone based fly line cleaner is safe for other lines.
Here's a good link about line care: http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/scianglers/pdf/ms_bulletin/Bulletin400.pdf
You need Adobe Acrobat to view it.

Hope this helps.

[ESOX]

And when you use a quality cleaner, the line shoots through the guides like new, if not better.

[SALMONATOR]

As for removing the coils, I'd suggest takng the line off the reel at the end of the season when you are done fishing that particular reel/line, and wrapping the line around a larger diamiter object such as a coffy can.

Also after I clean my line in the spring I coat it with this stuff called Glide, made by Umpqua. It ads a nice slippery coating to the line and lasts a good while. It looks similar to Armor-all out of the bottle and probably is. Works well for me though.

Al

[Woolybugger]

I use the Cortland line cleaner. Shoots like brand new.

[SALMONATOR]

Are you talking about those cleaning pads you get with the line? Those things work great too. strip your line out through one of those and wipe off the excess with a rag while you reel it back onto the spool. They leave a grease-like coating on the line and it shoots great, but it doesn't last as long. If you use this stuff, I'd coat the line before every time I went out (ideally). Good stuff though. It works well.

Al

[Beaglernr]

River, about the only thing I can add to the posts is I clean my line every time it is used to minimize crud buildup. Have tired Scientific angler line cleaner ok, glide ok, Russ Peak (one of my favorite for old lines) is ok, about the only thing I did when I used ammor all was read the directions, takes a long time for that stuff to dry out but I use to put my line between two trees and let it hang there for about a hour after it was coated then buff it out.

This new coating is suppose to make clean up much easier but I may find out, this year my old lines (most are about 15 years old) are just about ready to be replaced.